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June 29, 2015

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SK reports 32nd death in MERS outbreak

South Korea yesterday reported its 32nd death from MERS as the virus鈥檚 mortality rate continued to rise even as the pace of the outbreak appeared to slow.

A 55-year-old man died on Saturday of Middle East Respiratory Disease, the health ministry said, putting the latest mortality rate at 17.5 percent.

That is up from 15 percent a week ago and 10 percent two weeks ago, though still lower than World Health Organization figures, which put the rate for the disease about 36 percent.

The man was diagnosed on June 9 after contracting the virus at Samsung Medical Centre in Seoul 鈥 the outbreak鈥檚 epicenter 鈥 where about 90 patients, visitors and medical staff have been infected.

The total number of infections remained unchanged at 182 and 15 patients were in a critical condition, the health ministry said.

A total of 91 patients have recovered and been released from hospital, including one on Saturday, it said.

As of yesterday, 2,562 people were under quarantine either at state facilities or at home, it said.

The outbreak began on May 20 when a 68-year-old man was diagnosed after returning from a trip to Saudi Arabia. Since then, the virus 鈥 for which there is no vaccine 鈥 has spread at an unusually rapid pace through Asia鈥檚 fourth-largest economy, sparking public alarm at home and across the region.

South Korea鈥檚 government is facing criticism for failing to stop the outbreak.


 

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